Today, public and private partners re-launched an updated wildlife-monitoring website aimed at getting feedback from motorists traveling on Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass.

The site, I-90 Wildlife Watch, invites information from the 28,000 motorists that drive over Snoqualmie Pass each day. The information motorists provide will allow public agencies and conservation groups data about the movement of wildlife within the I-90 corridor. The area features newly completed and under-construction wildlife crossings, part of a major highway improvement effort, the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project, by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

“We are proud to re-launch this website to expand opportunities for locals, visitors and other motorists to engage directly with wildlife conservation, monitoring, and education in the Snoqualmie Pass region,” said Jen Watkins, lead project coordinator for I-90 Wildlife Watch and Conservation Associate with Conservation Northwest.

“We are now both hearing from motorists on what they see from Interstate 90, and giving them a glimpse of how fish and wildlife are responding to the historic private and public conservation investments in this landscape, most notably new animal crossings under and over the interstate,” said Watkins.

Interstate 90 crosses the Cascades at Snoqualmie Pass, where traffic volumes average 28,000 vehicles per day and are increasing by approximately 2 percent per year. While I-90 is a vital east-west transportation corridor in the state, it also bisects a critical north-south wildlife corridor for wildlife moving throughout the Cascade Mountains and from the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Mount Rainier National Park.

As part of the I-90 improvement project, WSDOT plans to build 24 wildlife crossing structures between Hyak and Easton to provide a safe roadway for both motorists and wildlife.

These structures range in size from enlarged culverts passing under the interstate to 150-foot vegetated bridges over the roadway. Construction on these crossings are underway. WSDOT has already completed two undercrossings near Hyak and is in the process of building the Keechelus Lake Wildlife Overcrossing, scheduled to be complete in 2019, over the roadway near Price Creek.

The wildlife crossing projects were long championed for inclusion in WSDOT’s project by local conservation, recreation and business organizations as a win-win for animals, motorists and the freight industry, including by the I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition and Conservation Northwest’s I-90 Wildlife Corridor Campaign.

“Each new phase of the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project brings us closer to our goal of minimizing the impact of the highway on the landscape. The project would not be possible without the support of the public and our partners,” stated Mark Norman, WSDOT biologist. The website provides a great opportunity to make connections with those groups. Together we will make I-90 safer for wildlife and motorists for generations to come.”

Originally launched in November 2010, the I-90 Wildlife Watch website began sharing results of wildlife monitoring throughout the I-90 corridor. These results included successful, safe passage of wildlife, from families of ducks to herds of deer, through the completed wildlife undercrossings.

Continued information reported by motorists through the website will complement the ongoing research to help agencies better understand which species are interacting with the highway today and into the future.

“I-90 Wildlife Watch is a wonderful opportunity to foster participation, education, innovation, and collaboration in wildlife research,” remarked Patty Garvey-Darda, wildlife biologist with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. “Through the I-90 Wildlife Watch, the public, local agencies and universities can work together to learn how to restore the connectivity of wildlife populations in the National Forest and protect public safety through the prevention of vehicle and animal collisions.”

I-90 Wildlife Watch is a collaborative effort led by Conservation Northwest, a non-profit regional wildlife and wildlands organization, Central Washington University, WSDOT, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.

I-90 Wildlife Watch asks motorists to pay careful attention as they travel I-90 between North Bend and Easton and to report observations of live or dead wildlife at www.i90wildlifewatch.org. The website also provides images from research of wildlife in the Snoqualmie Pass region.

I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project webpage:

Conservation Northwest I-90 Wildlife Corridor Campaign webpage:

]]>No publisherChase Gunnell2017-08-01T18:04:59ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/i-90-wildlife-watch-urges-motorists-to-report-wildlife-in-snoqualmie-pass-areaConservation Northwest Statement on Smackout Wolf Packhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/nRQ8aofz0sw/conservation-northwest-statement-on-smackout-wolf-pack-1
While heartrending, it is our hope that this action to attempt to remove up to two members of this pack, in addition to the one already killed, will cease further livestock depredations and prevent the need for additional lethal actions, protecting the integrity and future of this pack. We see this as a test of the theory that early lethal intervention can disrupt depredating behavior.
For More Information, please contact:communications@conservationnw.org

On Thursday morning, July 20th, 2017, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced that due to recurring depredations on livestock exceeding the thresholds outlined in the state’s Protocol for Wolf-Livestock Interactions, the Department has initiated incremental lethal removal of members of the Smackout Wolf Pack.

In a report on incidents to date, the Department detailed the extensive preventative and responsive actions taken by the ranchers within this pack’s territory. They also described a recent caught-in-the act incident involving a rancher within the Smackout Pack territory that occurred after several days of intense harassment and attempts to haze wolves away from livestock. That incident was investigated by WDFW Enforcement and was found to be consistent with state regulations.

While heartrending, it is our hope that this action to attempt to remove up to two members of this pack, in addition to the one already killed, will cease further livestock depredations and prevent the need for additional lethal actions, protecting the integrity and future of this pack. We see this as a test of the theory that early lethal intervention can disrupt depredating behavior.

Since 2011, Conservation Northwest has partnered with ranchers operating in Eastern Washington wolf country through the Range Rider Pilot Projectto implement non-lethal measures to reduce conflicts where wolves and livestock overlap. Ranchers operating on Colville National Forest grazing allotments within the Smackout Wolf Pack territory were among the first to participate in the range rider project. For more than six years, they have been utilizing high-quality and exceedingly thorough conflict avoidance measures, including regular and at times around-the-clock human presence, carcass removal, removal of sick or injured livestock from summer grazing allotments, use of fox lights around pastures during times of high wolf activity, and more.

Based on the information provided by the Department, it is clear that the ranchers involved in this case have been doing everything possible to avoid conflicts with wolves and other predators. We are deeply saddened by the loss of these wolves, and for the strife this incident has caused ranchers operating in this area.

We remain committed to the goal of long-term recovery and public acceptance of wolves in our state alongside thriving rural communities.For years we’ve worked with WDFW and other wildlife constituents through the Wolf Advisory Group (WAG) to develop responsible wolf management policies. We strongly believe that the current Protocol for Wolf-Livestock Interactions, including agreed upon thresholds for actions to resolve persistent depredations, reflects a reasonable approach towards wolf conservation and management.

While it is extremely unfortunate to learn that persistent depredations have occurred in the Smackout area despite exhaustive preventative measures, we recognize that occasional conflicts between wolves and livestock are an expected occurrence on both public and private grazing allotments within wolf territories. As disappointing as it is that they were not ultimately successful in this incident, abundant evidence from Western states and provinces shows that range riders and other conflict avoidance measures can reduce the risks of depredations on livestock. We remain confident that these tactics are worthwhile and effective despite this latest event.

Our organization has been proud to support ranchers in the Smackout area in their efforts to reduce conflicts. Through six years of frequent interactions between wolves and livestock, their efforts were able to keep the conflict to a minimum. And we’ve been inspired by their commitment, and the dedication of other ranchers in Eastern Washington, to continue ranching alongside wolves and other native carnivores, as well as their diligence to being highly responsible stewards of the range they graze.

We're also pleased to see many more ranchers and farmers in Eastern Washington adopting their own range riding and other proactive conflict avoidance measures. Recent data from WDFW shows that in 2017, more than 90 Washington ranchers are utilizing similar preventative measures. These growing efforts are reducing conflicts and building social tolerance for gray wolves in our state.

The Smackout Wolf Pack resides in an area of northeast Washington where gray wolves have been federally delisted, and where wolves and confirmed wolf packs are relatively numerous. Despite isolated conflicts, our wolf population continues to grow by approximately 30 percent annually in Washington, with a minimum of 115 wolves, 20 packs, and 10 successful breeding pairs documented at the end of 2016.

Additional information on Conservation Northwest’s Range Rider Pilot Project is available at www.conservationnw.org/range-riders. This collaborative effort between our organization and six Eastern Washington Ranchers works to build coexistence while protecting the lives of wolves and the livelihoods of small businesses operating in wolf country. Through this program, we also offer training, and other financial and technical support for conflict avoidance efforts

]]>No publisherChase Gunnell2017-07-20T17:45:00ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/conservation-northwest-statement-on-smackout-wolf-pack-1Statement on Hanford Reach National Monument protections http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/Vl_kSMA-SdI/statement-on-hanford-reach-national-monument-protections
“We appreciate that Secretary Zinke and the White House have chosen to listen to the many thousands of Washingtonians who want to see monument protections remain in place at Hanford Reach,” said Mitch Friedman, Executive Director of Conservation Northwest.Last night, Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray announced that they have received confirmation that the Department of the Interior will not pursue changes to Hanford Reach National Monument due to overwhelming public and local support for this important area.

“We appreciate that Secretary Zinke and the White House have chosen to listen to the many thousands of Washingtonians who want to see monument protections remain in place at Hanford Reach,” said Mitch Friedman, Executive Director of Conservation Northwest.

“Hanford not only safeguards the last free-flowing stretch of the mainstem Columbia River, it’s also a vital area of increasingly rare desert grassland habitat, protecting and connecting lands in the heart of the Columbia Basin for species from elk and mule deer to rare ground squirrels and hundreds of species of birds,” said Friedman. “We’re thankful to everyone who spoke up in favor of continued protections at Hanford, and especially to our state elected leaders and Senators Cantwell and Murray, who showed great leadership in championing continued protections for this special place.”

The Hanford Reach National Monument has been identified by the Arid Lands Initiative, a consortium of land managers and conservationists, as one of several shrub-steppe priority areas in central Washington, connecting and protecting core habitats for shrub-steppe species east of the Cascade foothills. The area is noted for its high resilience to climate change due to diversity of microclimates, topographical range, and habitat connectivity.

The monument contains a high diversity of habitats in relatively pristine condition, including rare, large tracts of pristine native shrub-steppe vegetation, dunes, white bluffs, and the 51 mile Hanford Reach, the last free flowing non-tidal section of the Columbia River and spawning grounds for the largest run of wild Chinook salmon in the lower 48 states.

Numerous wildlife species depend upon the Monument's intact ecosystems—43 species of fish, including threatened and endangered salmon and trout; 42 mammal species; 258 bird species; 4 amphibian species; 11 reptile species; and over 1,500 invertebrate species have been documented on the Monument.

Conservation Northwest is opposed to any boundary adjustments or rescindment of the 27 reviewed national monuments, which the American public owns and overwhelmingly supports. Only Congress holds the power to diminish and rescind national monuments. An executive-branch monument review is truly unprecedented, unnecessary, and possibly illegal.

We embrace the underlying vision of President Roosevelt that is “the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.” The Antiquities Act and America’s national monuments are a shining example of this vision, and they should not be undercut or diminished in any way.

Full comments from Conservation Northwest submitted during the recent national monuments review process are available here.

]]>No publisherChase Gunnell2017-07-13T00:48:40ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/statement-on-hanford-reach-national-monument-protectionsStatement on U.S. House Resolution 2936http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/s7MC8edYtJw/statement-on-u.s.-house-resolution-2936
"Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017" does not promote resiliency and instead undermines years of collaborative restoration work.
"Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017" does not promote resiliency and instead undermines years of collaborative restoration work.

Yesterday, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee marked up and passed H.R. 2936, the “Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017,” which if passed into law would reverse 40 years of advancement in the planning and management of America’s public forests, increase wildfire, harm streams and wildlife, and likely reinstate the contentious forest wars of the late 1980’s. H.R. 2936 will now go to the full House for a vote.

In response to this resolution, Conservation Northwest released the following statement:

“This bill is an act of aggression against both our public forests and the collaborative spirit and effort that has moved many forest communities from conflict to common ground over the past decade,” said Mitch Friedman, Executive Director of Conservation Northwest (CNW).

"CNW’s professional field staff has been deeply involved in the collaborative development and implementation of over fifty large forest management projects on national forests in Washington over the past fifteen years. Such work would end the moment this bill was signed," added Friedman.

“H.R. 2936 opens the door to replacing science-based restoration of healthy, resilient forest ecosystems, a model that benefits people, wildlife and local communities, with projects focused on timber production that all too often have the side effect of actually increasing fire danger,” said Derek Churchill, Ph.D., a professional forester and forest scientist.

H.R. 2936 would exempt from environmental analysis and oversight massive logging projects, from ten to 30,000 acres. It would expedite the logging of fragile recently-burned forests, eliminate protections for old growth and roadless forests, and cause a flood of litigation. Conversation Northwest is firmly opposed to H.R. 2936.

]]>No publisherChase Gunnell2017-06-28T23:37:22ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/statement-on-u.s.-house-resolution-2936Trail cameras show first evidence of fishers born in the South Cascadeshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/SjOlA30sQ3k/trail-cameras-show-first-evidence-of-fishers-born-in-the-south-cascades
Grainy images of a young female fisher with her kit provide the first evidence that this rare forest carnivore is reproducing in the South Cascades, where state, federal and non-profit organizations are working to reintroduce them.First confirmed reproduction since we reintroduced fishers into Washington's South Cascades in 2015

Grainy images of a young female fisher with her kit provide the first evidence that this rare forest carnivore is reproducing in the South Cascades, where state, federal and non-profit organizations are working to reintroduce them.

The pictures show a female fisher in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest coming down her den tree headfirst, carrying a large kit.

“She is hopefully the first of many female fishers we photograph attending a den site and caring for kits in the South Cascades,” said Jeff Lewis, a wildlife biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The adult female fisher is only two years old, the youngest a fisher can be to give birth to kits, said Lewis.

“Reproductive success of a female this young and this new to the South Cascades is a positive sign that the reintroduction area can support a self-sustaining fisher population,” said Tara Chestnut, an ecologist with Mount Rainier National Park.

"This is an inspiring milestone that shows how public, private, tribal and non-profit partners can together make big conservation wins happen, restoring our natural heritage and building a wilder future in our state,” added Dave Werntz, science and conservation director for Conservation Northwest.

The female fisher was released in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in February 2016 as part of an effort to restore fishers to the state. Fishers, a housecat-sized member of the weasel family, were eliminated from Washington by the mid-1900s through over-trapping and habitat loss. They have been listed as a state-endangered species since 1998.

WDFW, the National Park Service and Conservation Northwest are leading the Cascades fisher reintroduction project. Sixty-nine fishers have been released in the South Cascades to date. Fisher releases in the North Cascades will begin this fall.

Documentation of fisher offspring is only one indication of success in the Cascades, said Lewis. Project partners estimate that 77 percent of the fishers released in winter and spring of 2015-16 survived their first year and 64 percent of females established a home range.

Project partners also worked together from 2008 to 2010 to release and monitor 90 fishers in Olympic National Park. Monitoring efforts there have shown that the released animals have distributed themselves throughout the Olympic Peninsula and are successfully reproducing.

Fishers are related to otters and wolverines and are native to the forests of Washington, including the Cascade Mountain Range. Fishers prey on various small mammals – mountain beavers, squirrels and snowshoe hares – and are one of the most effective predators of porcupines.

Sources of funding for the reintroductions include WDFW, the National Park Service, Conservation Northwest, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington's National Park Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Doris Duke Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, and those who purchase Washington State personalized license plates, among others.

Fisher recovery efforts in Washington also rely on the support of the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the British Columbia Trapper’s Association, British Columbia trappers, and the private forest landowners that participate in conservation agreements for fishers.

For more information, please contact:

]]>No publisherChase Gunnell2017-06-28T17:40:19ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/trail-cameras-show-first-evidence-of-fishers-born-in-the-south-cascadesStatement on Revised Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocolhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/jd1oraTAw8U/statement-on-revised-wolf-livestock-interaction-protocol
As a member of Washington’s Wolf Advisory Group (WAG), and an active participant in the collaborative process to update our state’s Protocol for Wolf-Livestock Interactions, Conservation Northwest supports the updated protocol released by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on June 1, 2017.As a member of Washington’s Wolf Advisory Group (WAG), and an active participant in the collaborative process to update our state’s Protocol for Wolf-Livestock Interactions, Conservation Northwest supports the updated protocol released by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on June 1, 2017.

“This updated protocol is the product of months of coordination between biologists, conservationists, livestock producers, hunters, and other wildlife stakeholders on and off the Wolf Advisory Group and WDFW,” said Paula Swedeen, Ph.D., a WAG representative and Carnivore Policy Lead for Conservation Northwest. “We strongly believe that these policies reflect a balanced approach to wolf conservation and management that supports long-term wolf recovery in our state while also meeting the needs of local communities and small businesses operating in wolf country.”

“This version incorporates lessons learned from the 2016 grazing season,” said Swedeen. “The ability to continue to jointly solve issues around wolf management among diverse stakeholders shows that coexistence is possible and maintaining respectful dialogue leads to better conservation outcomes.”

The latest protocol also further emphasizes proactive, non-lethal deterrents to reduce or prevent conflicts with wolves. While the need to use proactive non-lethal deterrents was part of the 2016 protocol, the 2017 version includes more detail and emphasis on tools, intent, and expectations around implementation of those deterrents prior to the Department considering lethal take of wolves.

“In 2017, we’re seeing a dramatic uptake in ranchers utilizing proactive deterrence measures over the past several years, and this has come through relationship-building and respect for rural communities and producers,” said Swedeen. “Use of those proactive methods is vital for coexistence, and the updated protocol better recognizes that.”

According to data from WDFW, the number of producers who have signed up for Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements or who are being covered by Department range riders (contract range riders) has increased from 20 in 2013 to 90 in 2017.

In the 2017 version of the protocol, livestock producers are expected to implement at least two proactive deterrence measures that are appropriate to their operation instead of “sanitation plus one additional measure” that was required in the 2016 protocol. This change clarifies that sanitation, while important, may not be relevant in a particular situation, so allows for application of other more effective measures. In addition, the qualifier “at least” was added to the language to allow for the possibility that more than two measures may be needed, and may already being practiced by producers. Local WDFW conflict specialists will work with producers in known wolf territories prior to depredations occurring to determine the appropriate measures for a particular operation. The conflict specialists need to concur that the measures are both suited for the situation and are in place for an adequate amount of time.

“Wolf recovery is progressing in our state, and so our policies for conserving and managing this iconic species need to progress as well,” said Swedeen. “We support this protocol as an important collaborative policy that ensures a future in Washington with healthy, sustainable wolf populations and thriving rural communities.”

1. Range Riding and Other Human Presence: There is strong emphasis in the revised protocol on using range riders or other appropriate human presence on large grazing allotments. The Department is working to make sure that all priority areas (for example wolf packs that overlap public lands, and wolf packs who have had a history of depredations in past years) have adequate human presence through providing both financial and technical assistance. For more information on range riding, visit: www.conservationnw.org/range-riders

2. Responsive Deterrents: The Department will work with producers to increase deployment of responsive deterrence measures after a depredation occurs. This is the same as last year and continues to be an important part of trying to avoid the need to use lethal removal by halting further depredations through non-lethal measures.

3. Lethal Initiated Later if Appropriate Deterrence Measures Not Employed: If the expectations for deployment of both proactive and responsive measures laid out in the revised protocol are not met, the Department will not consider lethal take at the specified thresholds, nor without attempts to use deterrence measures to end the depredations (see below).

4. Changed Thresholds for Initiating Lethal: In cases where the expectations for deployment of both proactive and responsive deterrence measures laid out in the revised protocol are met, the thresholds for initiating wolf lethal control include an acute and a chronic scenario:

a. The acute threshold is three livestock depredations, including up to one probable, during a rolling 30 day period.

b. The chronic threshold is four depredations in a rolling ten month period, including up to one probable depredation.

c. In both cases, one of the confirmed depredations needs to be a kill (i.e., all confirmed depredations can’t be non-fatal injuries to livestock), and in order for a probable to count, it needs to be close in space and time to the confirmed depredations. In other words, not every instance of a probable would meet this criteria and therefore count towards the lethal threshold. In addition, the Department has described their depredation classification practices such that there is now a relatively high degree of certainty that a probable depredation is caused by wolves.

d. The intent of having both a three depredations in 30 days option, and counting up to one probable depredation, is to attempt to intervene in a depredation situation earlier in order to prevent the entire pack from becoming accustomed to preying on livestock, with the overall intent of having to lethally remove fewer wolves.

5. Shorter Time Frames for Considering Lethal: The above time frames are shorter than what was used in the 2016 protocol, which was four depredations in one calendar year or six in two calendar years.

6. Application of lethal thresholds only to Eastern Washington Recovery Zone: These thresholds only apply to the Eastern Washington recovery zone. Should the other two recovery zones (North Cascades and South Cascades / Pacific Coast), which are currently under the management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, become federally delisted while this protocol is in effect, the lethal thresholds would not be applied to packs that are a resource concern, or if their application would impede reaching recovery goals in these two regions.

7. More Documentation:The Department has committed to providing summaries of the depredation investigations and a description of proactive or responsive deterrence measures, including an assessment of why the measures are appropriate, after each depredation. While some of this information was made available last year, the Department will include more descriptive detail that allows the public to better understand the quality of deterrents and the reasoning behind the depredation classifications. . The Director’s rationale and decision for initiating lethal will also be made public prior to initiating a lethal operation.

8. Incremental Lethal Control: The protocol puts a limit of one to two wolves on the initial number of wolves that can be killed. They also consider the attempt to lethally remove wolves as having the potential to change behavior of a depredating pack. After an initial attempt and potential killing of one to two wolves, the Department will pause to see if depredations stop and will resume implementation of non-lethal deterrents. If depredations resume, the Department may continue with lethal control with another incremental kill of pack members. This approach is more defined than the 2016 protocol in its intent to use lethal as a means to stop depredations while killing as few wolves as possible. It explicitly notes that if no wolves are killed in the process and depredating behavior stops, that is a successful operation. The point is not to kill wolves but to change pack behavior to end livestock depredations.

Conservation Northwest has been the leading local non-profit organization working on wolf recovery and coexistence in Washington more than a decade. To learn more about our work for Washington’s Wolves, visit www.conservationnw.org/wolves, or follow us on Facebook at Washington’s Wolves

]]>No publisherChase Gunnell2017-06-02T16:15:47ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/statement-on-revised-wolf-livestock-interaction-protocolConservation Northwest statement on confirmation of Rep. Ryan Zinke as Secretary of Interiorhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/myHBZ4xjI3A/conservation-northwest-statement-on-confirmation-of-rep.-ryan-zinke-as-secretary-of-interior
While we admire Representative Zinke for being a Western outdoorsman who understands the beauty and value of our natural heritage, his stances on undermining environmental protections and prioritizing natural resource extraction cause great concern. If he is confirmed, we can only hope that the side of him we’ll see is that which has made strong statements in favor of keeping America’s national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands in federal hands.
Today, the U.S. Senate is
expected to confirm Montana congressman Ryan Zinke as the new Secretary of the
Interior, presiding over the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and a broad range
of other departments critical to our nation’s natural heritage.

“While we admire
Representative Zinke for being a Western outdoorsman who understands the beauty
and value of our natural heritage, his stances on undermining environmental
protections and prioritizing natural resource extraction cause great concern.
If he is confirmed, we can only hope that the side of him we’ll see is that
which has made strong statements in favor of keeping America’s national parks,
forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands in federal hands.

A fundamental obligation of
the Department of the Interior is to steward America’s rich natural endowment
in a manner that balances the short-term demands of development with the
long-term needs of fish, wildlife and wild places, as well as the legacy we
leave future generations. We are concerned that Rep. Zinke favors development
and extractive industries at the expense of clean water, protected wildlands
and healthy ecosystems. Doing so not only harms our environment and quality of
life, it can also cause significant harm to the vibrant $646 billion dollar
outdoor recreation industry, an economic powerhouse in our region. We applaud
recent statements from Senator Maria Cantwell and other Western leaders voicing their
concerns regarding Rep. Zinke’s nomination.

It is
important to note that Representative Zinke has made clear his opposition to
radical efforts to sell or transfer our nation’s public lands, wild places
conserved for all Americans that enjoy strong public support. Congressman Zinke’s decisive
statements in support of public lands, as well as his background as a Westerner
who appreciates wild places and the importance of outdoor recreation,
demonstrate a willingness to stand up for important conservation causes. We
hope this conservation ethic carries forward in his role as Secretary of the
Interior.”

Conservation Northwest is a
regional wildlife and wildlands conservation organization active for more than
25 years.

]]>No publisherChase Gunnell2017-06-28T23:36:10ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/conservation-northwest-statement-on-confirmation-of-rep.-ryan-zinke-as-secretary-of-interiorRestore the North Cascades Grizzly Bearhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/LFot_CmTbAY/restore-the-north-cascades-grizzly-bear
Release of draft restoration strategies welcomed as a historic step towards recovery of North America’s most at-risk bear populationSeattle, WA -- The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released options for restoring grizzly bears in the North Cascades. The release of the draft environmental report, developed in partnership with other state and federal agencies, was applauded by conservation leaders who’ve long sought to recover this grizzly population before the species vanishes from the region.

The release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is an important next step for a public recovery process, mandated by the Endangered Species Act. The EIS officially began in 2015 after decades of urging by federal and local land managers, scientists, tribal nations and wildlife and environmental organizations. The 60-day public comment period for the draft EIS will include eight public meetings held around the North Cascades region.

“In some of our most rugged national parks, we’ve celebrated incredible successes for wildlife over the past several years, and grizzly bear recovery is the next opportunity,” said Rob Smith, Northwest Regional Director for National Parks Conservation Association. “In the Northwest, we’ve seen salmon populations rebound in Olympic National Park after the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams were removed. And just this winter, Pacific fishers were successfully reintroduced at Mount Rainier. The time to restore grizzly bears in the North Cascades Ecosystem is now.”

“Grizzly bears are highly intelligent, charismatic animals,” said Joe Scott, International Programs Director for Conservation Northwest. “For many Northwesterners they are the very embodiment of wildness. Returning this magnificent animal to the North Cascades is a rare opportunity to restore our natural heritage. But we will need to work together - public agencies, local communities, First Nations, conservation, backcountry users and rural economic interests to do so; and so that it works for everyone. Then we will have cemented our wildlife legacy by leaving the North Cascades a bit wilder for future generations.”

Leaders from local Native American nations have also demonstrated strong support for grizzly bear restoration that is consistent with treaty rights and access to traditional areas of hunting, fishing, gathering and ceremonial purposes. The species is culturally important for many Northwest tribes and Canadian First Nations. Several indigenous nations have also passed resolutions in support of grizzly bear restoration.

“We are pleased to see the release of the draft recovery plan that will guide the recovery of grizzly bears in Washington state through a scientific and public process that includes all Washingtonians,” said Shawn Cantrell, Northwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife. “We know from recent polling and from the public comments that came in during scoping of this process that a majority of Washingtonians support recovery of grizzlies in the wilds of the North Cascades.”

“Bringing grizzlies back to the North Cascades is a tremendous wildlife conservation opportunity,” said Tom France, Regional Director for the National Wildlife Federation. “The North Cascades are cherished for their rugged country, abundant wildlife and rich opportunities for hunting, fishing and enjoying our natural heritage. It’s a place big and wild enough for both people and grizzly bears to roam.”

“Grizzly bears play an essential role in ensuring healthy, western North American ecosystems like the North Cascades,” said Robert Long, PhD, a senior conservation scientist at Woodland Park Zoo. “Their natural behaviors help regulate prey species, dispersed plant seeds, and maintain sustainable landscapes in surprising ways. For example, when a grizzly bear uses its claws to dig in the earth for food, it is also aerating the soil, helpful for meadow ecology and wild flowers. Recovering the grizzly to the North Cascades is an investment in the future health of this unique ecosystem.”

Woodland Park Zoo, Northwest Trek, Conservation Northwest, Defenders of Wildlife, National Parks Conservation Association and the National Wildlife Federation are among the founding partners of the Friends of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Coalition, an independent and informal partnership supporting grizzly bear restoration. Since the organization’s launch in May of 2016, more than two dozen organizations, businesses and tribes and over two thousand supporting individuals have signed on as Friends of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear.

The North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone, anchored by North Cascades National Park, was designated by federal scientists in 1997, when it was determined the region has sufficient quality habitat to support a sizeable grizzly population. It is the only grizzly bear recovery area on the west coast of the contiguous United States.

Biologists estimate there are fewer than ten grizzly bears remaining in the North Cascades today, making it the most at-risk bear population in North America. The last verified grizzly sighting in Washington’s Cascades was in 1996, with more recent documentations occurring in the British Columbia portion of the range.

The main threat to grizzly bears in this recovery zone is a small population size and isolation from other grizzly populations in central British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains. Successful restoration of North Cascades grizzly bears would be a historic victory, indicating restoration of all wildlife populations that were present in the region, prior to the turn of the 19th century.

]]>No publisherAlaina Kowitz2017-01-12T18:38:47ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/restore-the-north-cascades-grizzly-bearFishers Reintroduced at Mount Rainier National Parkhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/ZYnk512_k58/fishers-reintroduced-at-mount-rainier-national-park
Release marks the return of a native species after an absence of about 75 yearsContacts:

State, federal and non-profit biologists released ten fishers today in the Nisqually River watershed of Mount Rainier National Park as part of a collaborative effort to restore the species to Washington.

Fishers, a housecat sized member of the weasel family, were eliminated from Washington by the mid-1900s through over-trapping and habitat loss. They have been listed as a state-endangered species since 1998.

The four female andsix male fishers released today were captured in British Columbia as part of a multi-year project to reintroduce 80 fishers to the southern Cascades. They underwent veterinary checkups and were equipped with a radio transmitter to allow biologists to track the animal’s movements.

The reintroduction was made possible by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the National Park Service, Conservation Northwest and other partners. Last year these partners released 23 fishers, 11 females and 12 males, in the southern Cascades on Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Releases in the northern Cascades are planned for coming years.

“Mount Rainier is an icon of the Pacific Northwest, and today our region is wilder and healthier with the return of the fisher to Mount Rainier National Park,” said Mitch Friedman. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this historic reintroduction effort, and thankful to all the scientists, agencies, and supporters who made it possible.”

Joining the partners in today's event were representatives from the Nisqually Tribe, the Cowlitz Tribe, and two Canadian First Nations bands, the Nemiah Valley Indian Band from the Chilcotin (Tsilhqot'in) Nation and the Williams Lake Indian Band from the Northern Shuswap (Secwepemc) Nation.

“Watching the fishers return today to their native forests of Mount Rainier National Park after a long absence was inspiring,” said Randy King, Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent. “It was an honor to have the Nisqually and Cowlitz Tribes, Yakama Nation, and the Canadian Chilcotin and Northern Shuswap First Nations attend bringing their blessings and songs.”

WDFW and the National Park Service are coordinating the monitoring of the state’s reintroduced fishers. Conservation Northwest is supporting ongoing fisher monitoring with volunteers and remote cameras through its Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project. These partners worked together from 2008 to 2010 to release 90 fishers in Olympic National Park. Monitoring efforts show that the released animals have distributed themselves throughout the Olympic Peninsula and have successful reproduced. Updates about the released fishers are posted on the WDFW website, http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisher/reintroduction_cascades.html.

”We are excited to work with so many committed people to reintroduce fishers into another area were they have lived historically,” said Hannah Anderson, WDFW’s listing and recovery manager. “Fisher enthusiasts ranging across nations have come together to work toward a more robust natural balance with the introduction of these animals in Washington.”

Fishers are related to minks and otters and are native to the forests of Washington, including the Cascade mountain range. This elusive carnivore preys on various small mammals – mountain beavers, squirrels and snowshoe hares – and it is one of the few predators of porcupines.

“Mount Rainier is an icon of the Pacific Northwest, and today our region is wilder and healthier with the return of the fisher to Mount Rainier National Park,” said Mitch Friedman, Executive Director of Conservation Northwest. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this historic reintroduction effort, and thankful to all the scientists, agencies, and supporters who made it possible.”

Sources of funding for the reintroductions include the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, the National Park Service, Conservation Northwest, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington’s National Park Fund, state wildlife grants, Washington State personalized license plates, and funds from other partners.

“We have a responsibility to restore old-growth forests and
help marbled murrelet populations recover within Washington,” said Dave Werntz,
Science and Conservation Director with Conservation Northwest. “We can ensure jobs
and wildlife over the long run if we manage our state forests sustainably,” he
added.

Marbled
murrelets are small plump seabirds that nest in old-growth forests along
Washington’s coastal areas. Unlike other seabirds, they raise their young on
wide branches of large old trees, flying daily up to 55 miles to forage in
nearshore marine areas. Murrelets were listed as a threatened species in
Washington in 1993 due to significant loss of old forest nesting habitat. Since
then, their population has declined an additional 44% as logging on state and
private lands continued unabated.

Washington DNR is considering a range of options intended to
reverse this decline, but independent scientific analysis has shown that none
of the current alternatives are sufficient to protect and restore the bird’s
population on state forest lands.

“Whether your passion is hiking, wildlife, clean water, or
slowing climate change, right now we have our single best chance to put our state
forests on a sustainable path for current and future generations,” said Lisa
Remlinger, forest campaign director for Washington Environmental Council. “Across
our state, people depend on the long-term health of our forests. When we manage
them responsibly, everyone can win,” she added.

Coalition members – which include Conservation Northwest,
Defenders of Wildlife, Olympic Forest Coalition, Seattle Audubon Society,
Sierra Club, Washington Environmental Council and Washington Forest Law Center
– are proposing a new conservation strategy that puts state forests on a
sustainable path. The coalition’s proposal promotes sustainable forest restoration
and management to improve habitat and provide a long-term supply of logs,
revenue and jobs.

Revenue from state forests contributes to school
construction and benefit local counties; the coalition’s proposal is consistent
with these responsibilities. The coalition also commits to working with the
Commissioner of Public Lands, legislators, and county commissioners to develop alternative
funding strategies to keep local economies vibrant.

“The science is clear, marbled murrelets nest most
successfully in large expanses of older forest habitat, which are also home to
a vast diversity of plants and animals, mitigate climate change, and provide
numerous other benefits to society, such as clean air and water,” said Kara
Whittaker, senior scientist at the Washington Forest Law Center. “These are our
forests, our future and our responsibility. We have a chance to show our
children how to be responsible stewards, while keeping people working, and funding
new school construction,” she added.

MISSOULA, Mont. — Today the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana ordered the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to reconsider its decision to exclude the Canada lynx’s entire southern Rocky Mountain range, essential for the wildcat’s recovery, from designation as critical habitat.

Critical habitat is area designated by the federal government as essential to the survival and recovery of a species protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Once designated, federal agencies must make special efforts to protect critical habitat from damage or destruction. In 2014, the Service designated approximately 38,000 acres of critical habitat for threatened lynx, but chose to exclude the lynx’s entire southern Rocky Mountain range, from south-central Wyoming, throughout Colorado, and into north-central New Mexico. These areas are vital to the iconic cat’s survival and recovery in the western U.S., where lynx currently live in small and sometimes isolated populations. Now, according to the court’s September 7, 2016, order, the Service must go back and reexamine these areas.

“Given that evidence cited by the Service in the September 2014 final rule shows that a reproducing lynx population exists in Colorado, the Service’s failure, on account of marginal hare densities, to designate critical habitat to protect that population and aid in its maintenance is arbitrary, capricious, and ‘offends the ESA.’ ” Court order at 20.

“This decision gives the lynx a fighting chance to not only survive – but recover – in the southern Rockies,” said Matthew Bishop, an attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center who represented the groups. “We’re hopeful this decision will mark a turning point for lynx conservation in in the heart of southern Rockies lynx habitat.”

Lynx habitat is under threat across the contiguous U.S. from climate change, road building, motorized recreation, and logging. Perplexingly, the Service’s latest designationdecreased existing protections by 2,593 square miles compared to a 2013 plan. In doing so, the Service excluded much of the cat’s historic and currently occupied, last best habitat in the southern Rockies and other areas from protection. The court found the Service failed to follow the science showing that lynx are successfully reproducing in Colorado, and therefore excluding Colorado from the cat’s critical habitat designation “runs counter to the evidence before the agency and frustrates the purpose of the ESA.

“With increasing threats from climate change and development, it's long past time lynx receive every possible protection, including safeguards for the rare cat’s southern Rockies habitat,” said Bethany Cotton, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians. “The Fish and Wildlife Service needs to stop playing politics and start meeting its obligations to recover our most imperiled species, including lynx.”

The court ruled the Service did not improperly fail to designate historical Canada lynx habitat in Oregon and Washington’s Kettle Range, disappointing wildlife advocates.

“Canada lynx once roamed snowy peaks in Oregon from the Eagle Caps to Crater Lake,” said Oregon Wild Conservation Director Steve Pedery. “It's unfortunate that this decision does not do more to help restore this iconic animal to its rightful place in the Oregon backcountry.”

"It is discouraging that Oregon was not included, but this victory keeps us hopeful for the species," said Nick Cady of Cascadia Wildlands.

"Washington's Kettle Range provides important lynx habitat and a vital connection between populations in the Northern Rockies and those in the North Cascades," said Dave Werntz, science and conservation director for Conservation Northwest "We're disappointed that this area has not been recognized as critical habitat, and we urge managing agencies to take further steps to protect lynx habitat in northeast Washington."

The Service first listed lynx as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2000. However, at that time the Service failed to protect any lynx habitat, impeding the species’ survival and recovery. Lynx habitat received no protection until 2006, and that initial critical habitat designation fell short of meeting the rare cat’s needs and the ESA’s standards. After two additional lawsuits brought by conservationists challenging the Service’s critical habitat designations culminated in 2008 and 2010, a district court in Montana left the agency’s lynx habitat protection in place while remanding it to the Service for improvement. This resulted in the most recent and still inadequate habitat designation.

In 2014, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana also ruled that the Service violated the ESA by failing to prepare a recovery plan for lynx after a more than 12-year delay. The court ordered the Service to complete a recovery plan for lynx by January 15, 2018.

“Lynx are a vital part of the landscape in Colorado and they need to be protected to ensure that they continue to recover, and eventually prosper," said Sloan Shoemaker, executive director of Wilderness Workshop. "This decision is an important step in that direction.”

The Western Environmental Law Center represented WildEarth Guardians, Wilderness Workshop, Cascadia Wildlands, Conservation Northwest, and Oregon Wild on the case.

Background

Canada lynx, medium-sized members of the feline family, are habitat and prey specialists. Heavily reliant on snowshoe hare, lynx tend to be limited in both population and distribution to areas where hare are sufficiently abundant. Like their preferred prey, lynx are specially adapted to living in mature boreal forests with dense cover and deep snowpack. The species and its habitat are threatened by climate change, logging, development, motorized access, and trapping, which disturb and fragment the landscape, increasing risks to lynx and their prey.

Studies show species with designated critical habitat under the ESA are more than twice as likely to have increasing populations than those species without. Similarly, species with adequate habitat protection are less likely to suffer declining populations and more likely to be stable. The ESA allows designation of both occupied and unoccupied habitat key to the recovery of listed species, and provides an extra layer of protection especially for animals like lynx that have an obligate relationship with a particular landscape type.

]]>No publisherChase Gunnell2016-09-07T20:57:31ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/court-orders-fish-wildlife-service-to-reexamine-lynx-critical-habitatJoint Conservation Wolf Advisory Group Statementhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/budCnQ30p8k/joint-conservation-wolf-advisory-group-statement
By Wolf Haven International, the Humane Society of the United States, Defenders of Wildlife, and Conservation Northwest

The
authorized removal of wolves in the Profanity Peak wolf pack in northeast
Washington is deeply regrettable. The Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW) is however following the protocol developed by the Washington
State’s Wolf Advisory Group (WAG) - a diverse group of stakeholders. The WAG
and WDFW have committed to evaluate how the protocol worked on the ground this
season in order to improve it for next year. In addition, we intend to
conduct a thorough and open-minded assessment of the issues raised for all
stakeholders involved.

We remain
steadfast that our important goals remain the long-term recovery and public
acceptance of wolves in our state alongside thriving rural communities. In the
meantime, we ask our community and the citizens of Washington State and beyond
to engage in respectful and civil dialogue as we work through these challenging
events. We believe that ultimately we can create conditions where everyone’s
values are respected and the needs of wildlife, wildlife advocates, and rural
communities are met.

]]>No publisherChase Gunnell2016-08-23T22:45:47ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/joint-conservation-wolf-advisory-group-statementLethal Removal of Profanity Peak Wolves Unfortunate, but Part of State’s Wolf Management Policyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/PMC0bjGzOro/lethal-removal-unfortunate-but-part-of-policy
Based on GPS tracking collar data and observations from agency experts on the ground, a total of one adult cow and three calves have been confirmed as killed by Profanity Pack wolves.Contact: Chase Gunnell, Deputy Communications Director, Conservation Northwest cgunnell@conservationnw.org, 206-675-9747 Ext. 209

Seattle, WA—Conservation Northwest is disappointed that wolf depredations on livestock within the territory of the Profanity Pack appear to have become habitual. We recognize that as wolf populations grow in Washington, under the state’s Wolf Management Plan (Wolf Plan) animals that habitually prey on livestock may need to be removed. This fact of responsible wolf recovery can be heartrending, but it won’t stop wolves from flourishing in our region over the long run if removals are done with care and restraint.

The area of northeast Washington where these events have occurred contains more than a half dozen confirmed wolf packs, with additional packs nearby in Canada and Idaho. We do not expect the loss of Profanity Pack members to impact the sustained recovery of wolves in Washington.

Washington's wildlife belongs to all the people of the state regardless of where they roam, or where the people live. When it comes to wolf management, citizens deserve timely and accurate information on the circumstances that led up to any lethal removals. We commend the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for providing information on this conflict in a prompt, thorough and transparent manner.

Based on GPS tracking collar data and observations from agency experts on the ground, a total of one adult cow and three calves have been confirmed as killed by Profanity Pack wolves, in addition to three probable depredation events by the same pack. (August 5th update: Another cow has been confirmed killed by members of the Profanity Wolf Pack, bringing the total of confirmed depredations to five). This count has reached the point where lethal removal of pack members by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is permissible under policies developed and agreed upon by consensus of the WDFW’s Wolf Advisory Group, on which CNW has a seat. The Department accepted these recommendations and adopted them as policy.

As a regional conservation organization committed to attaining practical solutions through collaboration and genuine listening, we were closely involved in the development of these lethal management policies and Washington’s Wolf Plan. Though it’s tremendously difficult to see wolves killed, we understand and accept this action as a necessary component of coexistence where people, wolves and livestock share territory.

WDFW conflict specialists worked with livestock producers to put a range rider into a grazing allotment that had not previously had one. This occurred shortly after the first confirmed depredation. The second affected producer already had a WDFW contract range rider since last year. Additional human presence, beyond the range riders, has been added by the producers. Both producers have been promptly removing or securing the carcasses of depredated livestock to help prevent further association of wolves with cows as a food source. We respect these steps and deeply appreciate that many ranchers across our region have been doing the same in recent years.

Through our Range Rider Pilot Project and other efforts, CNW is working to help livestock operators adopt these proactive conflict avoidance measures and promote tolerance for wolves in their communities. These services are freely offered (within our capacity) to ranchers who are willing to partner with us, and in 2016 more than half a dozen operators have done so. Tools like range riders, guard dogs and fladry aren't a cure all, but can work well, particularly when deployed for the duration of the grazing season. Compensation is also available from the state for Washington ranchers who have documented losses to wolves, lessening the economic impact of situations such as this.

The requirements for lethal removal as agreed upon by the WAG have been met. It is our hope that targeted lethal removals done in the most humane manner possible, as well as the further use of conflict avoidance measures by both the ranchers and WDFW staff, will resolve this issue without continuing losses of either livestock or wolves.

Wolf recovery that works

Conservation Northwest’s goal when it comes to wolf recovery in Washington is for our state to be a place where wolf recovery and management works in the long run; for people, wolves and all the Northwest’s wildlife. But to achieve this goal it will take hard work, respect and compromise from stakeholders on all sides.

It is important also to note that this will not be the last time wolves and livestock are in conflict in our state. Nor will it be the last time that wolves habitually preying on livestock will need to be lethally removed. Even with proactive range riding programs, thoughtful range management, and other coexistence efforts, such conflicts are infrequent but expected occurrences in areas where wolves have recovered such as Montana, Idaho and Alberta where the loss of a small number of cows to wolf predation, and the lethal removal of wolves habituated to livestock depredation is understood to be an accepted part of ranching and wildlife management. This will sometimes be the reality here in Washington too, especially where wolves and livestock overlap on large public land grazing allotments.

With calm collaboration and responsible problem-solving among all stakeholders, together we can reduce and appropriately respond to incidents like those of the Profanity Pack, and build a future that works for ranching families, rural communities, conservationists, and vital native species.

Wolves are part of our cultural and natural heritage. As a native keystone species they play an important role in the health of our wild ecosystems. Wolves belong in our state. Even as we lament the loss of both cattle and wolves in these events, Conservation Northwest looks forward to continuing to work with all parties to make the return of wolves to Washington a long term success.

]]>No publisherAlaina Kowitz2016-08-04T02:05:00ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/lethal-removal-unfortunate-but-part-of-policyMillions of Acres of Forest Will Remain Protected for Marbled Murrelets in Washington, Oregon, Californiahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/4XDVWHbolEM/millions-of-acres-of-forest-will-remain-protected-for-marbled-murrelets
PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized protections on nearly 3.7 million acres of critical habitat in Washington, Oregon and California for the marbled murrelet, a coastal bird unique to the Pacific Northwest. The final re-designation firmly stops timber-industry attempts to open up more federal lands for logging. Unfortunately, due to ongoing logging of habitat on state and private lands, as well as increasingly poor ocean conditions, marbled murrelets have continued to decline since they were protected under the Endangered Species Act more than two decades ago.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service did the right thing by retaining the habitat protections on federal land that were challenged by timber special interests,” said Kristen Boyles, an attorney with Earthjustice.

The Service did not, however, take advantage of the re-designation to include critical marine areas and state and private forests under the critical habitat umbrella.

“These protections still don’t go far enough — to save the marbled murrelet we need to protect the near-shore areas it needs for feeding and all of its remaining old-growth forest habitat in Oregon, Washington and California,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s disappointing that this designation shortchanges this critically imperiled seabird.”

The marbled murrelet is a shy, robin-sized seabird that feeds at sea but nests only in old-growth forests along the Pacific Coast. It was protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1992 because of logging of most of its habitat. Critical habitat was originally designated for the murrelet in 1996 and revised in 2011 to remove some areas outside the range of the species; that designation was challenged by the timber industry, resulting in today's re-designation, which includes the same areas found to be critical in 2011. As part of settlement with the timber industry, the Fish and Wildlife Service had originally agreed to remove all critical habitat protections for several years, but this move was stopped by Earthjustice, Audubon Society of Portland, Seattle Audubon, the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Northwest and Sierra Club through litigation.

Conservation groups and scientists submitted comments to the Fish and Wildlife Service calling for increased protections for marine areas and additional old-growth forests, but those comments were not heeded in the final designation.

“Murrelets in Washington have lost a third of their population since 2001,” said Dave Werntz, science and conservation director at Conservation Northwest, “and a third of its remaining old-growth habitat was cut down on state and private lands. Murrelets need habitat to survive.”

“Marbled murrelet habitat in state and private forests continues to be cut at an alarming rate and in clear violation of federal law,” said Bob Sallinger, conservation director for Portland Audubon. “The Fish and Wildlife Service missed an opportunity here to strengthen these protections.”

]]>No publisherAlaina Kowitz2016-08-03T22:05:59ZPress Releasehttp://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/millions-of-acres-of-forest-will-remain-protected-for-marbled-murreletsPolling shows 80% support for restoring North Cascades grizzly bearshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationnw-press/~3/gBjmQWxXH5o/polling-shows-80-support-for-restoring-north-cascades-grizzly-bears
A strong majority of Washington voters support efforts to restore grizzly bears in the North Cascades, according to a new poll conducted by Tulchin Research. New partnership of conservation, business and other groups back the return of a missing Northwest icon.

SEATTLE – A strong majority of Washington voters
support efforts to restore grizzly bears in the North Cascades, according to a new poll conducted by Tulchin
Research.

The poll,
conducted in May 2016 for Defenders of Wildlife, found 80 percent of
registered voters
in Washington support efforts to help the declining population of grizzly bears in the North Cascades recover. Notably, this
overwhelming support extends across gender, generational, regional, and even
partisan lines – with 89 percent of Democrats, 70 percent of Republicans, and
74 percent of independent voters backing these efforts. The poll finds
Washington voters hold the grizzly bear in high esteem, with 91 percent
agreeing with the statement that grizzly bears are a vital part of America’s
wilderness and natural heritage. Eighty-one percent believe that the “the State
of Washington should make every effort to help grizzly bears recover and
prevent their disappearance” and 85 percent of voters agree that “efforts to
help the North Cascades grizzly bear population to recover should be
science-based and led by expert biologists.” Other polling results are
available here: http://www.defenders.org/sites/default/files/publications/polling-finds-washington-voters-support-grizzly-bear-recovery-in-north-cascades.pdf

“Voters
in Washington value grizzly bears as a vital part of our natural heritage and
strongly back science-based efforts to help the population in the North Cascades
to recover,” said Elizabeth Ruther biologist and Northwest representative for
Defenders of Wildlife. “This is an issue that unites voters across party lines.
The poll results reinforce that Washington residents care about grizzlies and
will do what it takes to ensure this iconic species doesn’t die out in our
lifetime.”

The
poll coincides with Washington State’s official Bear Awareness Week, which runs June 4
through 12, 2016 and an announcement of a newly formed coalition called the Friends of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear. This coalition of scientists,
conservation organizations, local businesses, tribal nations, and a growing
roster of rural and urban residents is working to advance the widespread local,
regional, and national support for restoring a healthy population of grizzly
bears to their native home in the North Cascades through a multi-year Environmental
Impact Statement process started by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service in 2015.

“Wherever
grizzlies thrive, so does wildness, clean water and abundant native fish and
wildlife,” said Rob Smith, Northwest Regional Director for National Parks
Conservation Association, one of several coordinating organizations behind the
new collaborative effort. “We need to save the Cascade grizzly bear for future
generations – and the time to act is now.”

“Public
planning to restore a healthy grizzly bear population to the high-quality
habitat of the North Cascades Ecosystem marks the potential turning point in
the decades-long decline of the last grizzly bears remaining on the U.S. West
Coast,” said Chase Gunnell, Deputy Communications Director for Conservation
Northwest, a local organization that has worked for more than two decades to
restore the North Cascades grizzly population. “Without active recovery
efforts, these bears may soon be gone forever.”

“Humans
benefit from grizzly bears living in the North Cascades Ecosystem,” said Fred
Koontz, Vice President of Field Conservation for Woodland Park Zoo. “Their very
presence indicates wildness, biodiversity and health in our region.
Environmentally and ethically, the right thing to do is restore this
magnificent species to its original landscape.”

“Grizzly
bears are truly one of the most amazing species found in the Northwest,” said Northwest
Trek Wildlife Park’s Zoological Curator, Marc Heinzman. “They’re fascinating
and engaging animals which we should be proud to have in our wildlands. Their
role is paramount to a healthy landscape, and today they need our help.”

If
the North Cascades grizzly population is successfully restored, the region will
once again have functioning populations of all iconic wildlife species that
were present prior to the turn of the 19th century. According to the
friends, that is a momentous conservation achievement possible in very few
places in the continental United States. And one that Washington state, and the
nation, can be proud of.

Background:

Grizzly
bears have lived in Washington’s North Cascades for approximately twenty
thousand years. In 2016, wildlife experts estimate that fewer than ten remain,
making it the most at-risk bear population in North America. In 2015, the
National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in
coordination with other federal and state agencies, began a multi-year public
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process to plan for the restoration of a
healthy and functioning grizzly bear population in the North Cascades.
Designated a national Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone in 1997, the area encompasses
approximately 9,800 square miles from the U.S.-Canada border south to
Interstate 90 and is anchored by North Cascades National Park. It’s one of the
largest contiguous blocks of wild public land remaining in the lower 48 states.

The
National Park Service, USFWS and other agencies are expected to release draft
EIS alternatives for restoring a healthy grizzly bear population to the North
Cascades in the fall of 2016. Public comments on those alternatives will be
open at that time.

In
June 2015, the federal agencies released a summary report of the approximately
3,000 public comments submitted during the EIS scoping period held in early
2015. Of those who submitted comments in support of or opposition to grizzly
bear restoration during that period, comments from grizzly bear restoration
supporters outnumbered those from opponents by over five to one.

The
highly intelligent, charismatic grizzly is a symbol of strength and cultural
significance for many Native American and First Nations communities across the
Northwest. A vital part of our region’s ecosystems and thus of our natural
heritage, the grizzly bear is also a yardstick to gauge the ecological health
of the Northwest’s wild places.

Friends of the North
Cascades Grizzly Bear:

Learn
more about the Friends of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear, an independent and
informal partnership supporting the restoration of a healthy and functioning
grizzly bear population in the North Cascades Ecosystem, at www.northcascadesgrizzly.org. Supportive
resolutions, testimonials, frequently asked questions, resources and helpful
links, bear safety information, and more are available on the website.

More
than two dozen supporting organizations and businesses and over 500 supporting individuals
have already signed on as Friends of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear. Steering
Committee organizations for this collaborative effort include Conservation
Northwest, National Parks Conservation Association, Woodland Park Zoo,
Defenders of Wildlife, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and the National Wildlife
Federation.